Hair-curler



(No Model.)

W. H. SWEENY.

HAIR GURLER.

N0.- 451,984. Patented May 12, 189-1.

Nrrn

HAlR-CURLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,984, dated May 12, 1891. Application filed June 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,852. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SWEENY, of \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Style of Hair-Curler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to devices which are used for curling or crimping the hair of the human head; and it has for its object the production of ahair-curler, which shallbe of such construction as to enable it to be cheaply made, yet shall be entirely serviceable and efficient in operation, and which shall be ca pable of easy and convenient manipulation.

To these ends it consists in the device embodying the features hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my device opened ready for use. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same when closed, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line w ac to illustrate the locking device,

Reference to the drawings will disclose that mydevice consists of two parts or elements, hinged together, as hereinafter described, one A constituting whatlshall term the curling or crimping part proper, and one B which constitutes a locking part. The'former I make from a piece of somewhat elastic wire by bending it at suitable points so as to form two substantially parallel legs a and a and an open-ended U-shaped loop a. The wire is so shaped that this loop is disposed centrally between said legs in the same plane and parallel therewith; but it is shorter than they, so that its closed end a is at a point some distance from the free ends a and a of said legs. These ends are turned outwardly from the body of said legs 011 a compound curve, and with eyes 1) and Z) on the part B constitute the hinge-connection between the latter and the part A. The part B is likewise formed from a piece of elastic wire, and it consists of two straight slightly-convergent legs I) and b, united by portions 12* turned inwardly toward each other, and a substantially Ushaped portion connecting such inwardlyturned portions. The straight parts of such U-shaped portion are formed into sockets or seats b and b by lapping or bending the wire at such point three times on itself in diftion slightly to the outside of the others, so that a space will be left between the other two sections. The sockets or seats thus formed are adapted to receive the ends a and a of the part A when the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 to lock them together.

To use my device, with the parts opened to the position shown in Fig. 1, a suitable quantity of hair is placed at its free end within the loop a. The device is then turned or rotated a number of times to wrap or twist the hair around the part A. When this has'been accomplished, the-whole device is held in place by turning the part B on its hinges, so as to cause an engagement between its sockets or seats 12 b with the ends a a to lock said parts together. As said ends, because of the resiliency of the wire and the presence of the hair in the loop, are farther apart than the outer Wires forming the sockets or seats, they will have to be forced or sprung into the latter, which, however, can easily be done, the roundness of the wire aiding the operation. The sides of the U-shaped part slightly diverge, as shown, so as to allow the ends a a to set within the sockets or seats; or, if desired,'said ends can be turned outward to a slight degree to accomplish the same object.

To remove the device after a curl is formed it is simply necessary, after disengaging the locking part B and throwing or swinging it back, to draw thepart A from the inclosing hair, this being readily accomplished, as such of the hair as is within the loop will permit of its withdrawal in consequence of its open end.

ferent b ut parallel planes, with the middle sec- By providing the open-ended loop a with its sides substantially parallel a free space is afforded for the reception of hair, and by disposing its closed end away from the hinge device there will exist no likelihood of any hair becoming entangled in said hinge. Then, too, the wire being bent or rounded at the point where the loop unites with the legs, no sharp or angular surfaces exist to scratch or out.

It is to be noted, further, that each member or part of my device is formed of one continuous piece of wire, which in respect to the part A, besides other advantages, is specially advantageous in that the loop or part a, between which the end of the hair is to be placed, is always ready for use, as its sides have 'a fixed position relative to each other and to the legs, differing most essentially in this from devices where the similar part is made of two separate pieces hinged at one of their ends to the locking-piece.

Owing to the form of the hinge, (the eyes on one part and the portions on the other arranged obliquely therein with reference to a line passed through the axis of both eyes,) supplemented by the elasticity of the legs of each part, there will be such friction that the parts A and B will be securely held in the open position shown in Fig. 1, the latter thus be1ng kept so that it will not interfere when hair is being twisted around the part A. My device, as will be readily understood, can be cheaply made, is serviceable, and of utility, and has met with ready sale in the market.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim is- 1. A hair-curler consisting of a curling part having side legs and an open-ended hair-receiving loop disposed between said legs, and a locking part having a hinge connection to each of said legs to hold the device in place upon the head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A hair-curlerconsisting of a curling part having side legs and an open-ended hair-receiving loop disposed between said legs and having its closed end away from the free end of the said legs, and a locking part hinged to such legs at their free ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A hair-curler consisting of a curling part 4. A hair-curler consisting of a curling part and a locking part, the latter being formed of a piece of wire, so as to have two side legs connected at their ends, at which point sockets or seats are formed by bending the wire to overlap itself in three sections, the middle one of which being set to one side of the others to leave a space for the reception of an engaging portion on the curling part, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

5. A hair-curler consisting of a curling part having side legs and an open-ended loop disposed between said legs, and a locking part hinged to said legs and having seats or sockets into which can be seated the portions of said curling part where the legs unite with the loop, both of said parts being formed of wire, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A hair-curler consisting of a curling part and a locking part hinged together, one of said parts having eyes and the other portions passing through such eyes obliquely to the axis thereof, which co-operate with said eyes to lock or hold the curler parts in an open position, substantially as shown.

WILLIAM H. SWEENY.

Witnesses:

FELIX A. BELISLE, CHAS. J. OI-IARA. 

